Valve control



ance with my invention, the

Patented July 13, i926.

isats errar l erica.

DAVID CONRAD, GF ELDON, OIVA, ASSGNOR OF GNE-HALF TO VAN V. BALD- WIN,OF-ELDON, IOWA..

VALVE CONTROL.

Application lcd March l2, 1925. Serial No. 15,107..

rlhis invention relates to control apparatus for the valves of internalcombustion engines and more particularly to means for automaticallycontrolling the operation of the valves of the engine to insure openingthereof in. proper relation to the timing of explosions of the engine.frs those familiar withthe art are well aware, the timing of internalcombustion engines is usually advanced as the speed of the engineincreases and it follows that in order to have proper co-ordination ofthe valves with such timing, the timing of the valves should be likewiseadvanced. This advance of the valves in accordance with the increases ofthe speed of the engine has been heretofore accomplished but themechanism so employed have been faulty in that they do not provide for asmooth operation of the valve shifting mechanism and place undue strainupon the small shaft usually employed for supporting the cams by meansof which the valves are operated. An iriportant object of this inventionis accordingly the provision of a device which will effect the change ofthe phase relation of the cam shaft without placing undue s rain uponthis engine.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a novel andimproved governor for use in conjunction with an automat-ic valveshifting mechanism of this character.

rlhese and other objects l attain by the construction shown in theaccompanying d rawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is showna preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein Figure 1 is a planview partial in section showing a governor control phase changingmechanism for valves constructed `in accordparts being in a positionassumed when the engine is at rest or when the speed of operation islow;

Figure 2 is a ein'iilar view showing the Vposition assumed by the partswhen the speed of the engine increases;

Figure 3 is a bottoinplan view of the cover plate or stationary plate ofthe governor; v

Figure e is a transverse sectional view therethrough and;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of one of the governor weights.

Referring now more particularly to 'the drawings, the numeral 10indicates the main or crankshaft of an internal combustion engine and 11a drive gear carried thereby for the purpose of driving the cam shaftgear 1:2 attached to the cam shaft 13 by means of which the valves arecontrolled. ln the usual construction employed, the gears 11 and 12 arespiral gears and the gear 12 has twice the number of teeth that aresupplied to the gear 11. The gear 11 is usually rigidly mounted upon theshaft 10 butin accordance with my invention is slidably keyed thereon asindicated. It will be obfious that by shifting this gear 11 upon itsshaft and at the same time preventing its rotation with relation to theshaft. The spiral teeth of this gear acting against the spiral teeth ofthe gear 19, will cause the gear 12 to be partially rotated withrelation to the shaft 10, the direction of rotation depending upon thedirection of movement of the gear 11. y

Upon the outer end of the shaft 11 I mount a governor plate 14 which isrigid to the shaft 10 and rotates therewith and to the gear 11 l secureamovable governor plate 15. The rigid governor plate has the innersurface thereof formed with radially directed grooves 16 each increasingin depth from the outer side of the plate toward the center thereof.Secured to the plate 15 and extending outwardly therefrom are posts 17directed through openings 18 formed in a flange 19 upon the plate 14.'lhe outer ends of these posts 17 have heads 2O and between these headsand the flange 19, springs 21 are disposed which act to draw the poststhrough the openings 18 and accordingly to bring the plate 15 intoengagement withthe adliacent face of the plate let. Mounted upon theplate 15 are a plurality of sliding kweights 22 each in the form of aweight having their upper surfaces inclined at the same angle ofinclination as the opposed or base walls 23 of the grooves 16. A secondface of these weights slid-ably abuts the plate l5.

rThe operation of the device is as follows: The spring 21 normally drawsthe plates 15 into engagement with the adjacent face of the plate la andthe weights are arranged at the inner limit of their niove ment andagainst the shaft 10. A s the speed of the engine increases, thecentrifugal force causes the weights to move out wardly when they act asweights separat` ing the plates 14 and 15 and causing the plate 15 tomove longitudinally of the shaft lill) 10. 'lhis longitudinal movementby reason of the spiral te th ot the gear ll is trans` posed to rotatingmovement which is iinparted to the gear l2 with the result that the gearl2 is advanced, advancing the timing of the oams and changing the phasere` lation thereof with relation to the crank shaft l. l5); moving thesmaller gear l'l in. the manner ahove described, a Oreat deal of thethrust present, when an attempt is made to accomplish this movement,through the gear l2, is eliminated and a very steadily operating andeiriicient mechanism is produced.

It ivill be obvious that this construction may be very readily appliedto an internal combusti-on engine and that the Weight of the governorapplied to the forward end of the crank shaft Will have a tendency tosteady the same operating in a measure as a small fly Wheel at theforward end of the shaft. Attention is directed to the fact that if thegovernor is on the crank shaft, its weight will have no el'l'eot uponthe gears or teeth. In case of bacl: tiring or sudden stopping of themotor as this governor is solid on the crank shaft and independent ofthe gears, it u ill have no el'li'ect thereon. If, however, thisgovernor wa mounted on the cani shaft, the strain would all come on theteeth of the gears straining them and eventually breaking the same.Furthermore, vvhere this strain is applied to the large gear, the gearswould Wear out rapidly and furthern'iore the sliding of this large gearon its shaft has a tendency to Wear the splines and the plate resultingfrom this Wear of the splines would be increased by the increaseddiameter of such gear. lilith a small gear, suoli as is ordinarilyemployed on the crank shaft of an engine, a slight wear on the splinevvould not result in an appreciable movement of the outer circumferenceof the gear and this movement of the outer circumference Would bedivided hy tivo, assuming the proportions of the gears are thoseordinarily employed, before it reached the am shaft so that the per`eentage of error Will he materially reduced.

lt Will furthermore be obvious that the structure hereinbefore set forthis capable a considerable range of change and modiwation withoutmaterially departing from spirit of my invention and l accordingly donot limit myself to such specific structure except as hereinafterclaimed.

l claim:-

l. )t governor including stationary and movable plates, wedge-shapedweights disposed between said plates and urged ourzxardly to separatethe plates as the plates are rotated and springs connecting saidstationr y and movable plates urgingr the movaule plate tovvard thestationary plate, said stationary plate having radially extending slotshaving inclined faces facing the Weights and having the saine degree ofinclination the engaged faces of the weights the movable plate having' aflat face confronting said Weights.

n governor including stationary and movable plates, wedge-shaped weightsdisposed betivecn said plates and urged outwardly to separate the platesas the plates are rotated and springs coniiecting said stationary andmovahle plates urging the in vable plate to 'ard the stationary plate,said stationary plate comprising a relatively heavy solid metal bodyhaving foi-ined in the face thereof adjacent the movable plate groovesvvithin which said governor weights operate.

3. fr governor including a relatively' heavy metal body h ving formed inone face thereof grooves decreasing in depth toward the outer edge ofthe body, a flat plate confronting the. grooved face of the body, saidbody and plate cfmstituting the stationi'rry and inovable elements ofthe governor. posts secured to one of said elements and directed througha liange formed upon the other o'lf the elements, springs surroundingsaid posts and engaging the flange to force the elements tovvard oneanother and Wedge-shaped Weights disposed within the grooves of theheavy body and urged out vrardly to separate the elements vfhen theplates are rotated.

ln testimony whereof l hereunto aliibi my signature.

DJLYID 'FMERY CXRAD,

